The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-08-09
SEVENTY THREE YEARS AGO.
Capt Statham's Budget of Early His
tory and Sketch of His Life.


Capt. Stathan's Budget of Early His
tory and Sketch Of His Life.
Written for the Abbeuile (Gd.) Times by J. E. B.
Our hero was born in W ashington county,
Georgia, in the year 1905. We will say
nothing Of his life until 1914, at which time
his father moved his family to Telfair coun-
ty, Georgia. near the Ocinulgee river in the
Pondtown district. Being of an adventur-
Gus disposition, and the Creek Indians being
just across the river on the west side, he was
soon afforded adventure and fun, as he
often calls it, their depredatons being
quite significant, stealing, pilfering, carry
ing off hogs, COWS and occasionally horse.
No particular notice was taken OF this until
they killed old Mr. Burch and scalped his
son, in the spring of 1918, when the white
settlers became Infatuated at the outrage
and determined to have some revenge, at
least, if they could not rid themselves en-
tirely of the heal tless savages
So the settlers resolved themselves into
company of soldiers under the command of
Capt. John Wilcox, and on or about
March 5, 1878, crossed the placid
waters of the then unnavigable Ocmulgee
River in search of the mad red men, only
leaving few men to look after Sallie and
the children But their search was fruit
less for some two or three days. They had
been about twelve miles from the river,
securing the country far and near for In
dams, but no trail of them could be
found until that eventful morning,
March 0, 1918, when soon after leav-
ing camps and returning to the river to go
home, they came upon about fifty or sew
enty-five redskins at what is known as the
Breakfast Branch. Two and one-h half miles
Southwest from Jordan Bluff and six miles
from Abbeville is where the first Indian
battle was fought on the West side of the
Ocmulgee river. They could have passed
unmolested by them, but wanting some fun
and revenge for their long hunt, and the
loss of property and friends, they opened
fire on them, causing considerable demorali-
zation among them.
THE RESULT OF THE BATTLE
The firing commenced briskly and was
kept up perhaps two or three hours The
whites that were killed were Mitchell Crit
fin, Jake Nobles Mike Burch, William
Mooney and a Mr.. Morrison whose given
name we have forgotten. The wounded
were Nose Roundtree, John Lawson and
Mark Wilcox. do not know how many
Indians were killed, but the chief, who was
known as the Big Indian, was killed by
the gallant Captain, John Wilcox,
who always hit where he aimed, and
our hero who was considered the
best marksman with the rife in this coun-
try They were both shooting at him from
their shelter and he was also trying to get
a chance at them from behind "a small pine
tree. One being on the right and the other
on the left of him, and knowing the skill of
both men, imagine the size he would like to
have been just then. Uncle Nat being 20
or so yards and Capt John about 1876 yards
away, he naturally leaned too far toward
the latter, and the keen report of his rifle
announced the Big Indian. He had re-
ceived the ball just above the left hip,
which, ranging through the spine, killed
him instantly.
The other Indians fed the field at once,
and the whites also picked up the wounded
and crossed the river as soon as practicable
for fear of Indian recruits. Uncle Nat be-
ing the ablest bodied man and most willing
| of any, placed young Mark Wilcox upon
his back and carried him safely to the banks
! of the same smiling Ocmulgee, and all
crossed safely, and found Sallie and the
children all well.